This simple appetizer is a study in contrasts and harmony: roasting intensifies pear’s flavor and highlights the fruit’s natural sugars, which contrasts beautifully with salty, savory bacon and mild, creamy ricotta.

Perfect for breakfast, snack or even dessert, muffins are a favorite treat at any age. Serve these muffins straight from the oven with blueberries, blackberries or raspberries to best experience the earthy nuances of the cornmeal.

Who can resist a muffin piled high with streusel topping? But these muffins are far more than just their pretty topping: the muffin itself is a light, sweet cake punctuated with the bright tang of fresh blueberries.

You can never make enough coconut shrimp: the sweet, crunchy crust is the perfect counterpoint to tender, mild shrimp. The accompanying tangy, somewhat spicy pineapple relish completes the tropical harmony of flavors.

Make this compote when stone fruit is at the height of its season, and you will be rewarded with an intensely flavorful treat to eat on its own, over yogurt or ice cream, or topped with granola. Be sure to take the fruit off the heat when it is just shy of being tender—it continues to cook as it sits.